Port a Bach Camper
New Zealand
Atelier workshop
DESIGNER: Atelier workshop BUILDER: Atelier workshop BUILD DATE: 2013
LOCATION: New Plymouth, NZ PHOTO CREDITS: Atelier workshop RATING: 5 Stars
The Port a Bach or Kiwi Bach is a small holiday home in New Zealand, designed by the Architects Bonnifait + Giesen and Atelier workshop. William Giesen says the idea first came in 2001 based around the family bach at Matapouri beach on Maori leased land.
Port A Bach – a prototype Shipping Container Home was manufactured in Hangzhou China and shipped to New Zealand where it is now a part of the permanent collection at the Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth.
Architects AtelierWorkshop have designed a tiny home from a 20 foot used shipping container that serves as the perfect weekend getaway for a family of four.
Building Method
This 1x 20ft High Cube container vacation residence is furnished with bunk beds (neatly suspended within the open container doors, collapsible double-bed, dressing quarters, kitchen, and bath.
The Port-a-Bach is designed to be located in remote areas and can be promptly transported by a truck or a helicopter and installed with a minimal amount of impact on any site. It can be folded into a fully-enclosed exterior steel shell to be stored or secured or relocated.
“We started thinking about what we could put on the land that was more permanent than a caravan but that we could also take away in the future. Something mobile that still had the spatial feeling of a house. We had the idea of folding down one side of a container and covering it with glass to create a more spacious feeling. It can be folded up, packaged away and moved as you would a container.” - William Giesen
Features include highly crafted cupboards and shelving, stainless steel fittings, and kitchen appliances.
Designed to comfortably sleep two adults and two children, Port-A-bach architects were also interested to make their prototype as eco-friendly as possible with fittings for wind and solar power equipment available.
The bathroom has an open shower, a sink, and a composting toilet. A fabric screen system for the interior of the structure provides for the option of creating intimate room divisions readily, and an exterior canvas can be used to cover a deck area to expand the living space outdoors.
“The idea was for it to be fully self- enclosed,” says William. “It’s a highly crafted interior, lined in plywood that gives it a very solid feeling, not like being in a tent or caravan, but still with a lovely connection to the environment. With the canvas awning and the deck folded out this creates quite a large living platform (approximately 6 x 5.5 meters).”
The company originally planned to manufacture in China, and the prototype was indeed constructed in China, but “we just could not get the quality we required there and we have now opted to manufacture the containers entirely in New Zealand to ensure we can have the finish and quality we require”, said Bonifait.
Interbode Thoughts
Port-a-Bach is an alluring solution for a low-cost, low-maintenance weekend escape. Minimal modification to the standard shipping container keeps the costs down, while an innovative design ensures it's a very usable and multi-functional space. It is unique in its low cost, long term living solution yet without investing in a permanent property commitment.
The Price of this dwelling is NZD$100,000 or (US$55,000).
PORT A BACH DESIGNS
PORT A BACH
High Level Architectural plans of the Port a Bach Camper by Interbode design workshop
BUILD OR BUY
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